Lighter for cigarettes and the like



Aug. 7, 1945.'

L. K. DAVIS LII-GHTER FOR CIGARETTES AND THE LIKE Filed July 22, 1941 INVENTOR: /NCOL/V /C DA VAS BY AT);/oRNEY.

Patented Aug. 7, 1945 FUN lT-ED STATES PATENT OFFICE i l l 2,381,726 LIGHTER FOR CIGARETTES AND THE LIKE` Lincoln K. Davis, Brockton, Massl Application July 22, 1941, SerialsNo. 403,476

My invention relates to electrically actuated tobacco'lighters of the type lcommonly used on automobiles. It concerns especially the type designated as cordless or wireless, wherein the body of the lighter, carrying an incandescible igniting element, may be removed for use from a fixed holder, which is usually attached to the dash of the automobile, and which has provision for making the electrical connections necessary for :the energizing of the igniting element, man ually or semi-automatically. The term cord-- less when used herein is to be understood to refer to this type.

`A principal object of the invention is to ensure engagement of the end of `a cigarette with the igniting element, without visual attention on the part of the user; another object is to provide for improved ventilation of the igniting element, to promote quick and efhcient lighting; a third object is to prevent particles of burning tobacco from escaping when lighting a cigarette; a fourth object is to provide access to the igniting element from two directions, whereby the lighter may be used either as an ordinary cordless, or as the type herein disclosed, which may be termed self-engaging; another object is the provision of a convenient cigarette extinguisher.

In a preferred form of my device I attain the objects set forth by making the lighter body of plug form, with an axial hole through it adapted to receive a cigarette or cigar. One end is formed into a knob, for handling, while the other end carries the igniting element, which is of wire, preferably, and is disposed across the axial hole. The user inserts a cigarette in the hole and pushes it in until it is stopped by the igniting element, which is then energized unt-i1 it is properly incandescent. body, together with the inserted cigarette, is removed from its holder, and the protruding end of the cigarette is placed between the lips. One pu!! invariably is suiiicient to light it thoroughly, afterwhich the lighter body is withdrawn from the cigarette and replaced in the holder, or passed tov another user.

My invention also consists in certain new and original features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter set for-th and claimed.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of my invention will be particularly pointed out in :the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, and the manner in which it-may/-be carried out, may be better understood byfreferring to the following description taken Then the lighter in rconnectionwith the accompanying drawing forming a par-t thereof, in which i Fig. 1 shows a longitudinal sectional View of one form of my lighter and its holder.

Fig. 2 is an end View of the igniting head.

Figs. `3 and 4 are modified forms ofv heater ele ment; and

Fig. 5 is av longitudinal sectional viewy of a modied form of .lighter having a thermostatic release, and associated draft-producing apparatus for lighting a cigarette automatically.

In the following description and in the claims, various details will be identified by specific names for convenience, but they are intended tobe'as generic in their application as the` art will per= mit.

Like reference characters denote like `parts in the several figures'of the drawing.

`In the drawing accompanying and forming part of this specication, certain specific disclosure of the invention is made for purposes of explanation, but it will be understood that the details may be modied' in various respects without departure from the broad aspect of my invention.

Referring to Figs. l and 2, the lighterbody I is shown in place in its holder 2, which is illustrated as held to an automobile dash 3 by a retaining washer 4. Body I comprises a knob 5, which may be of any desired suitable material, threaded to an insulating cylinder 6, which in turn is threaded to an igniting head 1, which consists principally of a metal annulus 8, a ferrule-like cup-9and an igniting element I0. One end of the last named, which is preferably of flat nichrorne wire, is welded to tab I I of metal washer I2, which iselectrically connected to, `and also held in place by, the eyelet portionla of annulus 8, which is flanged over` in assembly. The other end of igniting element IU is welded to the inside of cup 9. Mica washers I4 and I5 serve to isolate cup 9 electrically, sothat current entering cup 9 must iiow through igniting element Il) in order to reach annulus B. Mica washer I6 is located between igniting element I0 and eyelet I3 and has a notch IB for tab II. Wash-4 er. I6 prevents igniting element Ill froml being short-circuited againstwasher I2.

The holder 2 is provided with inwardly-bear` ing spring tongues I'l, which hold body- I in place by friction. Ears' I8 serveto -make contact with flangeIS of annulus 8 when body I is pushed further into holder 2, against the resistance of spring tongues '20. -Thesef normally make'contactfwith :cup 9, andi connect-it with abattery 2| through screw 22. Spring tongues 20 are integral with a central plate or collar 20 through which screw 22 passes, held in place on` holder 2 by nut 24 and insulating washers 25. The other side of battery 2| is grounded to holder 2 through wire 28.

The lighter body I is provided with an axial passage 26, somewhat larger than a. cigarette, except at the inner end, where it is constricted sufficiently, at 21, to hold a cigarette by slight friction, and prevent its being thrown out or dropped inadvertently.

To use the deviceI a cigarette 28 is inserted, as indicated, with its end against the igniting element I0, and the knob is pushed to the right until ears I8 engage flange I9. This com pletes the electrical circuit, which is from battery 2| through wire 23, screw 22, springs 20, cup 9, igniting element I0, washer I2, eyelet portion I3, annulus 8, flange I9, ears I8, holder 2, and wire 23' back to battery 2|. Upon suitable incandescence of igniting element I 0, lighter body I is removed from the holder 2 and the exposed end of the cigarette placed between the smokers lips for lighting by drawing on it in the usual manner without removing it from the lighter body I. After lighting the cigarette the lighter body I is withdrawn from the cigarette and replaced in the holder 2 Where it remains until such time as it is required for further use.

Figs. 3 and 4 show different forms of igniting element which may be used instead of element I0 if desired. In Fig. 3 the element IUa has a generally zigzag configuration and in Fig. 4 the element |0b has a genenerally star-shaped configuration. In both Figs. 3 and 4 the resistance wire is laid out in the form of a pancake as in Fig. 1.

The `lighter body |0| shown in Fig. 5 is similar in its essential parts to that of Fig. 1. Holder |02 is enclosed by casing 29, which has a net vol-` ume of about four cubic inches. An air-tight seal against the dash |03 is ensured by washer 30, preferably of rubber, and the lighter body |0| is fitted with an air-sealing washer 3|, also preferably of rubber, which closes the opening 44 in sleeve 42 when the lighter body |0| is pushed into operating position, so that escaping expanded air from casing 29 must pass through ports 39, past igniting element IIO, and out through the constriction |21, and hence through the cigarette |20 therein.

`In this form, the contact fingers |20 are shaped so that they will grip cup I 09 firmly when the cup |00 is pushed beyond the rounded ends 46. Fingers |20 are made of bimetal and are so disposed that an increase in temperature will cause them to relax their hold on cup |09. Screw |22 supports an extension stud 32, which is insulated from it by the threaded sleeve 33, reinforced by the metal sheath 34. The outer end of stud 32 is threaded, and nut 35 holds the casing 29 in place, being insulated from it by washer 40.

Electrically connected to screw |22 is a terminal 36, and electrically connected to stud 32 is another terminal 31, it being fastened thereto by nuts 4|. Between these terminals, and preferably welded thereto, is a heating element 38, which will be seen to be in series with the igniting element ||0. Igniting element ||0 obviously is of less resistance than that of Fig. 1 for the same battery voltage, since approximately half of the wattage is used in the heating element 38.

The flange |I9 is of sufficient diameter to engage inwardly-bearing springs I I 1, which serve to make continuous contact therewith, and also hold body |0| by light friction in holder |02. Flanged sleeve 42 engages spring 43 at its inner end, and its outer end bears against :the flange 41 of holder |02, making a substantially air-tight seal. Spring 43 bears at its other end against ferrule-llke washer 45, which is clamped between knob |05 and insulating cylinder |06 together with' washer 3 I. constriction |21 prevents air loss and forcible ejection of cigarette |28 when springs |20 release.

To use the form of the device shown in Fig. 5, the cigarette |28 is inserted into the opening |28 until its end engages the igniting element I I0 and the knob |05 is pushed in until the maximum diameter of cup |09 passes beyond the ends 46 of fingers 20. The contact fingers |20 being resilient, grip the cup |09 and hold the body I 0I against the restoring force of spring 43.

The engagement of cup I 09 and fingers |20 completes the electric circuit, causing the igniting element I|0 to incandesce. The circuit is as follows: Current from battery |2I passes through wire |23, stud 32, terminal 31, heating element 38. terminal 36, screw |22, fingers |20, to cup |09. Thence the current passesvfrom cup |09 through heating element IIO to annular fiange IIS in the same manner as the current passes from cup 8 to annular flange I9 in Fig. l. The current then passes from annular flange |I9 through fingers II1, holder |02 to dashboard |03, thence through wire |23 to battery |2I, thus completing the circuit.

Igniting element I0 and heating element 38 incandesce simultaneously and the air in casing 29 is heated and expanded and flows through ports 39 past and through the foraminous igniting element I0 and out through the cigarette |28, lighting the same and forcing smoke through it which appears at the outer end of the cigarette and indicates that the cigarette is lit. At the same time the heat from the igniting element I I0 is being absorbed by contact fingers |20 and atthe expiration of about 10 seconds the contact fingers, being of bimetal, open, releasing their grip on cup I 09 and permitting the spring 43 to return the body IOI to its original position. The abrupt disengagement of cup |09 and the fingers |20 breaks the electric circuit and the snapping out oi the body I0| and the indication of smoke shows that the cigarette is lighted.

The cigarette |28 may then be removed from the lighter body without removing the lighter body I 0I from holder |02 and the smoker has a lighted cigarette without having to go through the distracting operation, While driving his car, of manually engaging the outer face of igniting element |I0 with the cigarette in his mouth as necessary with conventional lighters of the cordless type.

It is obvious that the casing 29 and the heating element 38 may be omitted in Fig. 5 in which event the lighter body I0| may be removed with the inserted cigarette |28 and the latter placed between the smokers lips and puffed as explained in connection with Fig. l or, if desired, the device of Fig. 5 may be used in a manner similar to the ordinary cordless lighter without inserting the cigarette |28.

As the lighting operation may be performed entirely by touch, ,since the cigarette is automatically maintained in lighting position, the safety aspect of the invention is obviousfor the driver of an automobile may light a cigarette without fumbimg and diversion of attention from me road. In addition, the new construction provides fork increased air'ficw','as Iccnipareti'with cr'- dinary lighter. Pipe smokers `know that the Iusual electric lighter plugs' the bowl' andV practically shutsl oi!V the. draft necessary forcombustion,

Whereas with'niy newtype itis almost aseasyto i lighta pipe as Withamatch,v and in addition there ricie. rf itis desired'tcsriufi a cigarette, placing it in the hole and leaving i t for a',v few'lsec'onds; without lighting the lighter, will accomplish this" effectively, and the stub 'thenl may be thrown away without fire hazardf Reasonable modifications are intended't'o be included within the scope ofthe invention. VFor example, it is` readily conceivable that .the thier-y rnostatic release 'mechanism of the form of Fig. 5

rnay be applied'to the form,v of Fig. l; or that it maybe'omitted fromtheform of Fig. 5. Fur"- therrnore, it is obvious that the lighters shown may be adapted tol accommodate cigars, in cornbinationwith, or instead of,- cigarettes. While the ideas disclosed'l pertainl principally' -to the cordless `types'of vlighters; they Yare not necessarily thus limited, and'it is' obvious that thev same principlesniay be applied in those havingiiexible wire connections,like itliev earlier forms ofautomobile-lighters;

While it will, be found' that the forni shown in' Fig; lywill oitenilight acigarette'automatically, the action is uncertain, so that ii this effect is' desired; the positive draft'typ'e lof Fig. 5' is' tobe preferred. Thgmethod of'lightngf automatically by means vof" expanded air isAk covered' bymy'onitedfstatcs Patent Nc. 1,982,3738,y (iat-eci` December 1:1', 1934. The' draft necessary for automaticv lighting also may be produced by other" means, such asa pistonl or-a diaphragm. Lighterse'm'ployingl thesehave been'jdi'sclo'sed in my United Statespatents, Nos."1,9591,093,' dated May 15, 1934, and 2,052,016", dated' August 2'5, 1936'.

While certain novel'fe'atures'of the invention have'been disclosedherein, and ar'e'pointed out in' the annex'edclairns, it will be understood that various omissions,'substitutions and changes may be made by those skilled-in the' art without defpartingf'rom 'the spirit of the'inve'ntion.

Whatclaimis: v l

1.-'In a cordless lighter, a stationary support, a lighter body having a knob and adapted to be inserted into saidsupport, said lighter body having an axial passage therethrough, a foraminous planar electric igniting element mounted on said body across the inner endy of said passage, the outer end of said passage being flared to facilitate the insertion of a cigarette, whereby said inserted cigarette may be ignited while in said passage from the inner side of said igniting element or a cigar or pipe may be ignited from the outer side of said igniting element after removal from said support.

2. In a cordless lighter, a stationary holder, a lighter body removably mounted in said holder, rsaid body having a passage, a foraminous planar igniting element at the inner end of said passage, the outer end of said passage being adapted to receive a cigarette, whereby said inserted cigarette may be ignited while in said 'passage from ment cfa, predetermineddegree of incandescence,A

I sage'in said body when the'latteris in saidholder f3: In' a lighter, a' body'=carryingat one end' in exposedY position an electrically incandescible ignitirig element, said body having' a passage through a cigarette maybe brought' into Contact with said ignitl'n'g element, said passage having a constriction fitting said cigarette snugly adjacent" to said igniti'ng element', a' holder for Said body, spring 'gripping means within said'. holderforretaining saidbodyportion in a neu'- tralff position whenl placed: therein; a' source of electric current, A contact means to connect saidv source `tofsaid"i'gnitifn'g element when. said body is insertedL vin said" holder beyond" said' neutral position',l spring return means' to' return said body to said* neutral position when released, a4 casing. as'- sociated' witlij said'h'older' in such a manner that the' only path. of escape of airi` from' within'said casing. isthrough the passage in' said k'md'y` whenthe' lattenis" in' said holder, l a heating element within said' casing', .nie'ans"connecting'said'heatingy element so' that it' is incandes'c'ible simultaneously With Said ign'ylrig el'er'lfl'ehtv When the latter is connected to said: source of current;r whereby insertionv o'f said b'ody in said holder to` the contact-makinig position causes incandesc'ence of" both elements named, and'v air in saidcasing is heated and expanded and" forced outwardly through said cigarette, promoting ignition ofthe Same.'

4. In'` a" lighter, a body carrying at one end an electrically incande'scible igniting element,. said body having a passage' therethrough communicating' with said igniting element and adapted` to receive a cigarette with a snug. ntv and with the cigarette engaging said ignting elemente, hold'- erlfor saidy body havingl springineans for maintainingsa'i'd holherin' ai neutral' position, a sourcev of current, .thermosta'tic' contact means adapted to lnullify" vsaidlspring zn'ean's'when the latter are ma'riuallyfovercome by` insertion of said body beyond said neutral position to contact-making position, lsaidthermosta't'ic contact means being operable',` upon' attainment by said" igniting. elein"- contact-making'' position, and' a heating, elenientr in said` casing; incande's'cible simultaneously withis'aid igniting element, whereby air in said the inner side of said igniting element or a pipe may be ignited and tamped from the outer side of said igniting element after removal from said holder.

casing is heated and expanded and forced outwardly through said cigarette, promoting ignition thereof.

5. In a lighter, a tubular body having a knob on the end thereof and having an axial passage therethrough, a contact cup secured to one end of said tubular body, an igniting element within said cup and located at one end of said passage, the other end of said passage flaring to facilitate the insertion of a cigarette or the like, a tubular holder having contact fingers, said body having contacts frictionally engaging said contact nngers, a sleeve slidable within said holder, said sleeve having an internal shoulder, said body having an external shoulder, a helical spring between said shoulders, said body having a, gasket slidable within said sleeve, said tubular holder carrying bimetallic contact ngers adapted to releasably engage the outer surface of said contact cup, a casing surrounding said tubular holder, an electric heater in said casing, whereby when said knob is pressed against said helical spring, said cup and bimetallic fingers engage, causing an electric current to be supplied to said igniting element and to said heater, said heater causing the airfto expand and to flow through said cigarette to light the same and said bimetallic fingers release said cup when heated by said igniting element.

6. In a cordless lighter for cigarettes and the like, a stationary holder well for securement to the body of an automobile or other vehicle, a lighter plug comprising a body having a, knob at its router end, said body being removably 1ocated in vsaid holder well, said body and knob having an axial passage therethrough, said passage having a restricted portion to snugly hold an inserted cigarette, an igniting element mounttedonjsaid body at the inner end of said passage,

theouter end o1' said passage at said knob being flared to facilitate the insertion of a cigarette, electrical contact devices on said stationary holder well and on said lighter body so arranged that movement o1' said knob energizes said igniting element'whereby an inserted cigarette may be lighted from said igniting element while held in said `passage with said plug removed vfrom said holder well, or a pipe Vmay be tamped by the inner` end oi said body and lighted by said igniting element with said plug removed from said holder well.Y

7. In a cordless lighter for cigarettes and the like, a stationary holder well for securement to the body of an automobile or other vehicle, a lighter plug removably held in said holder well, said plug having a handle end projecting out from said holder well and a lighting end disposed within said holder well, sage therethrough, said passage being of such length and diameter to receive and hold an inserted cigarette, an igniting element mounted on said plug across the lighting end of said passage, axially spaced, forward and reaward electric vcontacts carried by said lighter plug, said igniting element being connected respectively to said forward and rearward electric contacts by terminal means lying at the sides of said passage in such manner that said igniting element has its outer face accessible to light a cigarette or the like when the lighter plug is removed from said holder well and its inner face accessible to light a cigarette in said passage, said holder well having electric contact means spaced axially thereof for ycontacting said axially spaced contacts on said lighter plug tofsupply electric energy to said said plug having a pasigniting element when said plug is held in plugged-in position.

8. In a cordless lighter for cigarettes and the like, a stationary holder for securement to the body of an automobile or other vehicle, a lighter body removably held by said holder, said body having a handle end projecting from said holder and a lighting end, said body having a passage therethrough extending from said handle end to said lighting end, said passage being o! such length and cross section to receive and hold an inserted cigarette, an igniting element mounted on said body across the lighting end of said passage so that it is protected when said body is held by said holder, said igniting element having its outer face exposed and accessible to light a cigarette or the like when the lighter body is removed from said holder, the inner face of said igniting element being accessible to light a cigarette inserted in said passage, a yieldable device disposed between said holder and said lighter body urging said lighter body outwardly of said holder, electric contact devices on said holder and on said body engageable by holding said lighter body in pushed-in position against the torce of said yieldable device to heat said igniting element, and means ior firmly holding a cigarette inserted in said passage to prevent its being thrown out by action of said yieldable device. l

9. In a cordless lighter, a stationary holding device having an air-tight wall, a removable plug seating in said holder device, said plug having a handle end projecting from said holder device and a lighting end disposed within said holder device, said plug having air-sealing engagement with said holder device, said plug having at its handle end a cigarette-receiving opening and a cigarette-holding passage extending therethrough adapted to snugly embrace an inserted cigarette and an igniting element at the lighting end of said passage, said holder device having a source of electric energy, whereby said source of energy may heat said igniter element to incandescense and warm the air trapped in said holder device, whereby the expanded air is forced through said inserted cigarette while in contact with said igniting element to light the inserted cigarette, the outer side of said igniting element being also available to light a cigarette or the like when said plug is removed from said holder device` LINCOLN K. DAVIS.

controllable means 

